Riddle v. C. R. Bard, Inc. et al

Filing 16

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER granting 14 JOINDER by C. R. Bard, Inc. in Defendant Tissue Science Laboratories Limited's Oral Motion to Dismiss; plaintiff's claims against Tissue Science Laboratories Limited and Bard are DISMISSED with pre judice; because no other defendants remain in the case, the plaintiff's case is closed and stricken from the docket. Signed by Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on 5/22/2017. (cc: counsel of record; plaintiff via certified mail, return receipt requested) (kp)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA
CHARLESTON DIVISION
IN RE:

C. R. BARD, INC.,
PELVIC REPAIR SYSTEM
PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION

MDL No. 2187

THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO:
Kristina Ann Riddle v. C. R. Bard, Inc., et al.

Civil Action No. 2:13-cv-32233

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
On February 13, 2017, pursuant to Rules 16(a)(5) and 37(b)(2)(A) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, I granted as moulded a motion to dismiss made by defendant Tissue Science
Laboratories Limited (“TSL”) for the plaintiff’s failure to appear at a mandatory settlement
conference. [ECF No. 13]. In reaching this decision, I relied on Wilson v. Volkswagen of America,
Inc., 561 F.2d 494 (4th Cir. 1977), in which the Fourth Circuit identified four factors that a court
must consider when ruling on a motion to dismiss under Rule 37(b)(2)(A). See Order at 4–6 [ECF
No. 13] (applying the Wilson factors to Ms. Riddle’s case).1 Concluding that the first three factors
weighed in favor of sanctions as requested by TSL, I nevertheless declined to award dismissal
because it would offend the court’s duty under Wilson’s fourth factor, which is to consider the
effectiveness of lesser sanctions. In recognition of this duty, I ordered that the plaintiff pay TSL a
$1,000.00 monetary sanction and that, in the event the plaintiff failed to pay TSL $1,000.00 within
thirty days, the plaintiff’s claims against TSL would be dismissed with prejudice without further

1

The Wilson factors are as follows: (1) Whether the noncomplying party acted in bad faith; (2) the amount of prejudice
his noncompliance caused his adversary, which necessarily includes an inquiry into the materiality of the evidence he
failed to produce; (3) the need for deterrence of the particular sort of noncompliance; and (4) the effectiveness of less
drastic sanctions. Mut. Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Richards & Assocs., Inc., 872 F.2d 88, 92 (4th Cir. 1989) (citing
Wilson, 561 F.2d at 503–06).

notice to the plaintiff. I also directed the Clerk to send a copy of the Order to the plaintiff via
certified mail, return receipt requested, and to post the order on the court’s website for thirty days.
C. R. Bard, Inc. (“Bard”) joined in TSL’s motion to dismiss on February 15, 2017. [ECF No. 14].
On May 16, 2017, TSL advised me that the plaintiff has not complied with my order. In addition,
the plaintiff has not filed a pleading or responded to my order.
Accordingly, the court ORDERS that the plaintiff’s claims against TSL are DISMISSED
with prejudice. The court further ORDERS that Bard’s motion [ECF No. 14] to join in TSL’s
motion is GRANTED, and the plaintiff’s claims against Bard are DISMISSED with prejudice.
Because no other defendants remain in the case, the plaintiff’s case is closed and stricken from the
docket.
The court DIRECTS the Clerk to send a copy of this Order to the plaintiff via certified
mail, return receipt requested, and to counsel.
ENTER:

2

May 22, 2017